A little child stood in line waiting patiently waiting to speak to Santa Claus.  He listened carefully as each child named toy after toy. When it was his turn, he walked up to Santa Claus and climbed in his lap.  The man under the suit couldn’t help but notice his tattered clothes and the gloves with worn fingertips.  He hoped the little boy’s list would be short because he was sure he hadn’t bathed from the looks of his clothes.  He didn’t want the filth to get on his Santa suit.

“Ho, Ho, Ho little boy what do you want for Christmas?”

“My name is Justin and I want my friend Jessica to get a new heart because the one she has is filled with so much love that it doesn’t work any more. The doctor says that she doesn’t have much time left and if she doesn’t have the operation she won’t be able to love anymore.  I was just thinking if she got a brand new one then she wouldn’t need to worry about it ever again. I told her that she could stop loving me until she gets a new heart, but she says that its okay there is still a little room left in her heart so she will still love me.”

“What else do you want little boy?”

“Just a minute Santa, I am not done. I want her mommy to stop crying because Jessie, that’s what I call her, says that it breaks her heart.  If her mother keeps breaking her heart she will become sicker.  Her mother can’t help it because she loves her, but I don’t think she understands that a broken heart doesn’t work.  Jessica is older than me so she will need a bigger heart than mine. I offered to give mine to her, but she said if she takes my heart then I can’t love either.  I want her dad to smile more because Jessie says that it hurts her heart to see him so sad. I don’t think he understands that a hurt heart don’t beat as much. Please make her husband’s heart stronger because he says that it breaks every time he sees her. I don’t want his heart to need fixing too.”

“I see,” said the man under the suit ashamed and fighting to hold back tears.

The little boy continued, “Jessica is a very special person because she comes to see me every week at the orphanage.  She plays with me and tells me stories. She says that the stories are from her heart; so you see Santa she needs a new one so that she can keep telling stories. Don’t worry if you can’t do it Santa I understand that you have a lot of wishes to make come true. Jessie says that she needs a miracle so I figure if I talk to you and pray to God she will get the miracle she needs. I put my faith in God first, but I figure you can help too.”

The little boy started to climb down from his lap and then realized that he forgot something.

He handed the man in the suit a crumpled piece of paper “In case you can’t find her here is my address. You can leave the heart with me.”

The next day the boy was sitting in Jessie’s hospital room reading his favorite book to her when a man walked in. He said that he was a doctor and he was there to fix a heart filled with love. He walked over to the boy and handed him an envelope. Inside it was a letter:

Dear Justin,

Your Christmas wish was touching and selfless. 

So I spoke with a friend and he decided to grant your wish.

He said to enter his kingdom you must humble yourself like a child.

The fact that you requested nothing made him smile.

So this Christmas he grants you the one thing that you ask

Someone that can fix your friend’s heart and make it last.

He also granted your friend’s wish too.

She asked for a little boy just like you.

I am honored that you made this request of me.

But I do not work alone you see.

I almost gave up on Christmas and God sent me you

You see Justin, I pray too.

Santa Claus.

By: Patrice Davis